Borey vs Improved Kilo

Overview

The Borey and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes.

The Borey displaces 14,720 tons — 6.3x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Borey reaches 15 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Borey vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Borey carries a crew of 107 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 24,000 tons for the Borey vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Borey can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo.

The Borey was produced in 8 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. Cost per hull is $713M for the Borey vs $200M for the Improved Kilo. The Borey was commissioned in 2013, 33 years after the Improved Kilo (1980).

Borey

Russian ballistic missile submarine, introduced in 2013, uses a pump-jet propulsion system.
Origin 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Submarine
Type Ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Sevmash
Year introduced 2013
Number built 8 units
Estimated unit price $713 million
View full Borey details

Improved Kilo

Russian attack submarine, introduced in 1980, uses diesel-electric propulsion.
Origin 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Submarine
Type Attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1980
Number built 75 units
Estimated unit price $200 million
View full Improved Kilo details

Borey

Displacement 14,720 tons ◉
Maximum speed 15.0 knots ◉
Range Unlimited ◉
Length 170.0 m ◉
Beam 13.5 m ◉
Crew 107 ◉
Max depth 400 m ◉
Propulsion 1 × ОК-650V nuclear reactor, 1 × Steam turbine, 50,000 SHP, 1 × Pump-jet
Armament
  • 16 × RSM-56 Bulava SLBMs with 6 MIRV warheads
  • 8 x 533mm torpedo tubes (Project 955)
  • 6 × 533mm torpedo tubes (Project 955A)
  • 6 x 533mm external Special Purpose External Tubes (SPETS) REPS-324 Shlagbaum anti-torpedo defense system
  • RPK-2 Vyuga anti-submarine/ship missiles

Improved Kilo

Displacement 2,325 tons ◉
Maximum speed 12.0 knots ◉
Range 7,500 nm at 7 knots ◉
Length 72.6 m ◉
Beam 9.9 m ◉
Crew 52 ◉
Max depth 300 m ◉
Propulsion Diesel-electric propulsion; 2 × 1000 kW diesel generators; 1 × 5,500–6,800 shp (4,100–5,100 kW) propulsion motor; 1 × fixed-pitch 6-bladed or 7-bladed propeller
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 18 torpedoes
  • 4 Kalibr/Club land-attack cruise missile, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missile (some versions)
  • 24 mines
  • 8 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-N-8 Gremlin) or 8 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-N-10 Gimlet) surface-to-air missiles

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class has greater displacement at 14,720 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class is longer at 170.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Borey-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Borey-class has a larger crew complement of 107 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Borey-class is more expensive at approximately $713 million per unit compared to the Improved Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Borey-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 8 vessels of the Borey-class.

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